Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hey so as everyone can tell im new to these beautiful Tegus. Steve and I recently purchased two Red Tegus that weren't in the best of shape when we got them, they both had about 3 layers of retained shed and i feared that one would lose his tail due to a retained tail shed, but with alot of warm baths and some nice rubbing oil we finally got all the sheds off both of them and they have been putting on weight and settling into their new house. We were told we have one male and one female although the guy also said it was nearly impossible to sex them at this age. Anyways i have a question about Heat Rocks.I have only dealt with boas and pythons and i know its a bad idea for them but what about my baby tegus??? Would this burn them? And would it be a bad idea? or an okay idea? Would the Tegus like it?right now they have an undertank heater and basking spot but they are always digging down to get to the heater i am just worried that they will end up with a burn or something... Any ideas will be good for them! Thanks for all your help and feedback!!!

Sincerely,
Rose Hipskind

Mr Snuffles is the on in the background and the one in the front is Tuck my special little guy, who is a little bit of a problem eater, but he is looking better..

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www.srsnakes.com

In my opinion, heat rocks are never a good idea based on physics alone. Heat rocks have a small spot where the core is, and thus this creates one VERY hot spot and unevenly distributed heat across the rest. You say you have a heat pad right now? Some people use heat pads with no problems, but they seem to lay them on top of the substrate. I imagine it would mess with a tegus head a little to have to dig for heat since in nature the heat always comes from the suns rays or items heated by the suns rays. It is typically recommended (and what I use) to use basking lamps. All reptiles can possibly burn themselves on heat rocks. Things would probably be better if they had never been invented! I suggest throwing out the heat pad/rock and just setting up a nice warm basking spot with a surface temp around 110-120F. I have a 150W Exo-Terra tight beam spot lamp focused on a large flat rock, and Vito seems to love it. Hope this helps.
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-Bill

1.0.0 Albino California Kingsnake
0.1.0 Colombian Red Tail Boa
0.0.1 Axolotl Salamander
0.0.1 Red Flame Crested Gecko
0.0.1 Argentine Black and White Tegu

BoidsNTegus@insightbb.com

Bill-
Well thats what i was thinking about Heat rocks, i have an undertank heater right now since these guys are babies and a basking light for an increase in heat at a certain point in the tank but they always dig under the waterdish, im not sure if they are digging for the sake of digging or digging to get closer to the heat source. I just want to protect them.Steve and I are planning the design for their adult cages which we are custom building so i think we will be going with some good ceramic bulbs for heating. I am just worried about them as always and want them to be happy but thank you for the advice about the heat rock, thats a definent no. Seeming as this is a temporary home for them i guess it will have to do until there big tank is done. I do have a quetion about those little guys in a huge tank? would that make them scared or uncomfortable? being that they are tiny still and there new house is going to be 7feetx2.5feet with two level... is that going to scare them cause i could move them into a 4 foot boa tank for a little bit if that would be better for them. im sure the boa wont mind the extra room... anyways let me know what you think and thank you for the advice

Sincerely,
Rose Hipskind
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www.srsnakes.com

I don't think they get afraid of the enclosure size. Bert from Agama (where i bought Vito) keeps them in HUGE outdoor enclosures. I don't think 7' is too big, you may even want to go bigger or offer multiple levels. Scroll down about half way and look at the recent posts on enclosures to get an idea. I like the idea of multiple levels. Pay close attention to ciliatus' pics. I plan on using something similar. I keep mine (16" in a 5'x3' and he loves it. You will want the most room possible since you have 2 and reds get pretty darn big. How much substrate do have and plan to have. They love to dig. Props to you for saving the two little guys. You'll be as thankful as they are. Tegus rule.
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-Bill

1.0.0 Albino California Kingsnake
0.1.0 Colombian Red Tail Boa
0.0.1 Axolotl Salamander
0.0.1 Red Flame Crested Gecko
0.0.1 Argentine Black and White Tegu

BoidsNTegus@insightbb.com

i had mine on a heat rock when i first got him. theyre pretty safe now, most are as safe as heating pads and shut off at certain temps. if you look at snake pics in the photo gallery i think its an albino burmesse that was laying on a defunctional heating pad that burned through the wood and the snake had to have surgery. id stick with a heat lamp tho. they have some pretty big heat rocks online tho but theyre a grip of cash. later, justin